Equivalent Exchange (Envy x Reader) Chapter 1

You ran out of your family’s bakery. The second floor was blazing. The straw roof had caught easily, threatening to spread the flame throughout your small village. Just when your heart rate began to slow down to a healthy pace, you realized something vital. Something crucial.

Your baby brother was sleeping in the second floor.

You spun around. Everyone was busy protecting their own children or fighting the fire. Everyone but one. A young man about your age was standing in the middle of the street. He had dark green hair that reached his waist. It spiked out in every direction. He wore clothing that looked quite similar to women’s undergarments, with a miniskirt over it. You had never seen him before. In short, he was a stranger. A very strange stranger. But he was your brother’s only chance.

“Sir! You with the green hair!” He turned his head in your direction. “Please help me! My brother’s in there!”

“Why can’t you ask someone else? I don’t want to waste my time on a mere human. Or better yet, why can’t he save himself?” he replied coolly, and rather rudely.

“Everyone else is busy. And he’s not a mere human. He’s a person. Like you and me. And he’s only seven months old!” you answer, hiding your anger at his treatment. His eyes widened after you finished.

“Fine. I’ll rescue your pathetic brother. But you owe me.” He ran into the building at an incredible speed. In less than two minutes, he was out again, the small bundle that was your brother in his arms. He thrust the child into your arms. You wiped soot off his small face and hugged him to your chest.

“Thank you. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“You owe me. And I’ll come back someday to collect.” He turned and began to run into the nearby forest.

“Wait!” you called out, using the one arm not in use holding your brother to grab his elbow. He stopped and turned back.

“What?” he said sharply. You gathered up your courage, pulled him closer, and kissed him on the cheek. He turned back, and ran into the depths of the forest.